Part 4
"I can't wish myself away." Sarah said, wringing her hands as she paced Hoggle's living room. "He'd own me then. I can't, won't, give him that kind of power over me again."
"How else are you going to get to the Labyrinth?" Hoggle asked, watching her from his comfortable seat on the couch.
"The same way you got out." Sarah replied with determination.
"I was invited by you. Who do you know that is going to invite you into the Labyrinth?"
Sarah frowned as she contemplated his words. Who did she know? It had to be someone that had a connection…someone she could talk to. Someone…her expression lit up as realization dawned.
"I know who I can ask." Sarah said with a smile. "It'll have to wait till I'm asleep though."
Later that night:
Sarah stood before the gates of the Labyrinth staring up at the huge double doors that barred the entrance. The last time she had been here everything had been new and beautiful in a terrifying sort of way. Everything still appeared to be that way, but her fear was lessened by the fact that she knew she was dreaming. Nothing could hurt her in her dreams according to Kyra. Speaking of Kyra…
"Where are you?" Sarah wondered aloud. She heard a sound and turned to see a fairy whiz by, looking pretty and dainty in the pale moonlight. She knew better though. They bite.
"Kyra?" Sarah called hesitantly.
Last time Kyra had simply appeared. Sarah had assumed she'd still be watching, and would appear on her own. Perhaps she shouldn't have assumed…god knows she'd gotten into trouble doing that last time she was here. She walked toward the fountain that she'd met Hoggle at, sitting on its ledge and trailing a hand through the water, causing ripples that made the moon's reflection dance. When it steadied a face was revealed, attached to the body that was standing behind her. Sarah whirled, glaring as Kyra laughed at her.
"Did I startle you?" Kyra teased, her laughter ringing through the night. "I'm sorry. I couldn't resist. I do love a good prank."
"I'll recover." Sarah said dryly while her heart slowed its frantic pace. "Thank you for coming."
"I'm pleased you felt you could call." Kyra said, serious now. "I thought that after granting your wish you would find my company repellant."
"I should." Sarah replied without malice. "But I find I need you at the moment."
"How flattering." Kyra said. "What exactly do you need me for?"
"I need to come back to the Labyrinth." Sarah explained. "There's only two ways I can come in. One of them I cannot use."
"Wishing yourself here is not an option." Kyra agreed, amusement crossing her face as Sarah looked up sharply. "I read minds dearest. Surely you've found out that much about me."
"I was not aware you had that particular talent." Sarah said with dismay. "What else have you read from my mind?"
"Nothing I'll share with anyone else." Kyra assured her. "Unless you want me to tell Jareth—"
"There's nothing to tell Jareth." Sarah said hastily. "Will you invite me in?"
"Done." Kyra said. "I'm so glad you could come for a visit, my dear."
Both women disappeared in a shower of glitter. Hoggle, sitting at Sarah's bedside in his apartment, gave a great sigh as her form disappeared from the bed. She was in.
Sarah's breath left her lungs in a rush as she and Kyra appeared in the throne room of the castle. She was not surprised to note that very little had changed since she'd been here last. It was still dark and gloomy, and Jareth was not present.
"Housekeeping isn't his strong point, is it?" Sarah said with distaste as her gaze took in the cluttered room.
"He's a man, sweetie." Kyra reminded her. "What man do you know that cares how his place looks? It takes a woman to bring them in line."
Sarah couldn't imagine that anyone could bring Jareth in line.
"Where is he?" Sarah demanded, squaring her shoulders determinedly as she turned to face Kyra. Dwelling on the Goblin King's housekeeping skills was not her priority.
"You're on your own from here." Kyra told her. "I got you here. Everything else is up to you."
"But…" Sarah began to protest.
It was too late. Kyra was gone. Sarah glared at the space she had occupied though it would do no good. She had to find Jareth on her own. She figured the castle was as good a place to start as any.
Jareth turned when his sister walked in, his cape flying with the force of his anger as he glared at her. Kyra merely smiled at him, the picture of innocence as she settled her self at the table. She was reaching for a handful of grapes when his icy voice whipped out.
"You invited her."
Kyra chewed slowly on a grape and washed it down with a swallow of water before raising her gaze to his. Her expression was serious but he could see a sparkle of mischief in her eyes and he cursed inwardly, belatedly realizing that he had played right into her meddling hands.
"You wanted her here, didn't you?" Kyra asked, dabbing at her lips daintily with a napkin.
"She was supposed to wish herself here." Jareth reminded her, seething with irritation that he did not bother to hide as he began to pace the room. "She would have been mine then. An invitation gives her the option to refuse to stay."
Kyra paused in the act of forking up the eggs she'd conjured to look at him, the sparkle in her eyes even more evident as she grinned up at him.
"You'll just have to make her want to stay then."
"I don't care what she wants, little sister. Her feelings are no matter to me. Not anymore." Jareth snarled when she winked at him. "The only thing that matters now is I will have my revenge."
"Revenge is so cold, brother." Kyra said with a delicate shudder. "Sarah is such a warm person. You might get closer to her if you chose another tactic."
"Oh, and what tactic would you suggest?" Jareth demanded, crossing his arms across his chest as he stared down his nose at her. "If I were to be interested in getting closer. Which I'm not."
"You could try being friendly." Kyra replied, wondering if he realized just how pathetic his denial sounded. "She expects you to be what you were before. Try something different. Be nice."
Jareth tilted his head to the side as he considered her words.
"You're right." He agreed, stunning Kyra. "I'll try something different. She won't know what hit her."
"Jareth…" Kyra began only to trail off when he disappeared in a shower of glitter. She rolled her eyes heavenward before continuing to eat. She could tell her brother was about to do something very stupid. She conjured a crystal in her hand and sat back, preparing to watch the show.
Sarah walked down a dimly lit corridor slowly with her hand trailing across the stone wall. She pulled her fingers back at the slimy feel of the stone, grimacing as she wiped her grimy hand on the leg of her jeans. She couldn't understand how anyone could live like this. Then again the owner of this castle was probably too busy stealing babies to have any concern with the state of his home. She wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the chill in the air as she turned the corner into a room she recognized, and never thought she would see again. It was the room where she had faced The Goblin King for the last time…the room with the stairs…the one where she'd defeated him. As she left the corridor behind she didn't notice that the wall she'd run her hand across was sparkling…as if someone had spent hours scrubbing even though only moments had passed. Kyra noticed though, and she wondered if Jareth realized that his heart was beginning to thaw. Even if he didn't, his castle did. The touch of the mortal's hand upon its wall had brought that piece to life.
Sarah stood on the edge of a landing, staring down into the empty space in the center of the room. Last time she had jumped from this point to save Toby. There was nothing below now to call her, and she turned from the edge, walking straight into the unyielding form of the man she sought. An unwilling gasp tore from her lips and she instinctively took a step back…only to have her foot come down on air. She'd forgotten she was on the edge! Her arms began to pinwheel as she fought to keep her balance and she grabbed onto the only thing available to keep from falling. Jareth's arms slid around her waist as her hands clutched his arms, pulling her from the edge and securely against him without thought but to protect her as he held her close. Sarah's breath caught at his nearness and she leaned her forehead against his chest knowing that looking up would be a grave mistake at this moment. Her heart was beating quickly and she did not know if it was from the near fall or from his being the one to catch her. She had never expected that their first meeting in 10 years would begin like this. Finally trusting herself enough to look at him she raised her head and met his gaze.
Jareth's face remained impassive, maintaining its usual cold expression even though his heart had nearly stopped when she'd taken that step back from him. His lips twisted in a sneer as he thought that her first thought had been to get away with him, even if it put her at risk to do it. That was the expression she caught on his face when her gaze met his, that coldly arrogant stare she remembered so well. She tensed automatically, releasing her grip on his arms as she tried to step away.
"Be careful, Sarah." Jareth said, his voice a caress she hadn't known she'd longed for until now. "Your position is still…precarious."
Sarah looked back over her shoulder, shuddering at the dizzying view. She turned her head back until her gaze was once again trapped in Jareth's. A wry grin twisted her lips, surprising Jareth who'd expected harsh words of recrimination.
"My position was always precarious when it came to you." Sarah replied with a sigh. "Are you going to let go of me?"
"Do you promise not to try to kill yourself rather than be near me?" He asked with one eyebrow raised as he stepped back, pulling her with him as he did so.
"Kill myself?" Sarah said, puzzled as he released his hold on her waist. "Why would I try to...you thought…that I'd do that because of you? You are still full of yourself, aren't you Goblin King?"
His expression went colder, if that were possible. He looked down his nose at her in that regal way she remembered so well. She straightened her shoulders and gazed at him with open defiance, the fear of her near fall forgotten as she braced herself for his reply. She thought she was prepared for whatever he could throw at her…until he smiled. Not one of his sarcastic little smirks either…a full open smile. Sarah blinked in surprise, her heart stuttering in her chest as Kyra's words about a charming Goblin King came back to haunt her.
"You haven't changed." He said stepping back as his gaze swept down over her. "You still speak before you think."
He could see she had changed. She had more determination in her expression than he could remember seeing before. Her hair was still long, but twisted at the nape into a severe knot that hid it from view. Her eyes held more life, more of a sparkle than she'd had before…even the past couple days grief hadn't dimmed that.
"I'm usually more polite." Sarah said as his hands slid from her waist. She felt a loss at the absence of his touch and that disturbed her more than she cared to admit. "What are you up to?"
"What am I up to?" Jareth asked, one eyebrow arched. "It is you who are here, uninvited I may add. I should be asking you what you want."
"I was invited." Sarah said smugly, folding her arms across her chest as she stared at him. "And you're the one that tricked me into making that wish. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
"You still blame others for your own foolish decisions, I see." Jareth said with his own arms folded just as defensively. "I did not pull the words from your mouth."
"No, you used your sister to pull them from my head." She accused. "You sent her to do your dirty work for you. And because she loves you, she did it."
"How little you know." He replied as he smiled that little smile that never failed to infuriate her. She could feel her blood begin to boil as he continued to speak. "You still take so much for granted, little Sarah."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Kyra isn't as innocent as you'd like to think. She came to ME with what she knew." Jareth told her, enjoying the impotent anger that formed on her face. "You should be careful who you trust, my dear."
"I don't trust YOU." Sarah said knowing she sounded childish but not caring as hurt at Kyra's actions filled her chest. She'd begun to LIKE the woman. She should have known better.
"You don't trust me, and you don't like me. Whatever possessed you to want to come anywhere near me or my Labyrinth again?" Jareth asked as his voice dropped seductively. Sarah's eyes widened as he reached out and ran his finger down her cheek. She jerked her head away from his touch, eyes narrowing in suspicion as he sent her another smile.
"I came here…"Sarah began, hating herself for the tremor in her voice as she answered him. "…To be free of you."
"Sarah, don't you know that you will never be free or me?"
He disappeared before she could reply, leaving her staring off into space with confusion as his last words echoed.
Part 5
Sarah sat on the cold stone steps of the castle with her arms wrapped around her knees to ward off the chill in the air as the moon rose overhead. The Goblin City was washed in it's pale light, giving it an eerie luminescence that was quite beautiful. She hadn't noticed anything beautiful about this place last time she'd been here. She had only looked for what she had expected to see. She'd only wanted to save Toby, and she hadn't had them time to look for more. She wondered how much she had missed in her mad dash through the Labyrinth.
"Are you going to sit out here all evening?"
Sarah did not turn to look at Kyra, who had materialized beside her on the step. She had no wish to get caught in whatever game Jareth and Kyra were playing…She gave a great sigh when she realized she already was in the game…she just didn't know the rules.
"You are angry with me." Kyra said, settling her skirts about her as she sat beside Sarah.
"I shouldn't have trusted you." Sarah said simply. "That's my fault. You can't help who you are."
"And you think you know who I am." Kyra said, her voice serious for the first time since Sarah had met her. "You do take a lot for granted."
"Everyone here keeps telling me that." Sarah complained. "Why are you so surprised when what I've been shown reaffirms my expectations?"
"What else do you expect from a fairy tale kingdom? This place is designed to show you what you expect to see. What did you expect to see the first time you were here?"
"Horrible stuff." Sarah said promptly. "Toby was in danger."
"And you pictured him being held in a dangerous place." Kyra pointed out. "You were shown that. What do you expect now?"
"I don't know." Sarah replied with frustration clear in her voice. "I don't know what to expect from him. Everything's different."
Kyra's smile was as good as a verbal interruption. Sarah narrowed her gaze as she stared at her, she didn't like the smug expression on the Queen of Dreams' face.
"What?"
"It's funny how the first thing you mention as different is Jareth." Kyra responded. "Is he so present in your thoughts then?"
Sarah ran her fingers over the marble step she sat on absently as she formulated a reply. She did not see the blue glow that lit the step as her hand passed over it; her mind was too occupied with the question Kyra had asked.
"He wasn't before today." Sarah muttered as she shifted uncomfortably on the hard step. "That's not true. He was there, but not in the way he is now."
"Do tell." Kyra said eagerly, leaning forward so as not to miss a word. Her gaze missed nothing as the staircase Sarah sat upon shimmered in the darkness. "What way do you mean?"
"Jareth took my brother, that made him the villain in my eyes. It took me years to come to the realization that he only did what I asked him to. That still doesn't mean I trust him. But then I started to wonder why he would do what I, a mortal girl, asked him to do."
"Interesting." Kyra mused. "Have you figured that part out yet?"
"No." Sarah replied sharply. "I don't think I want to know. I just want this to go home."
"You're free to leave at anytime." Kyra reminded her. "There's nothing to tie you here. There's no reason for you to stay."
"I would rather stay here than go back to that hell I wished for." Sarah said with a frown. "Was it his intention to drive me back here because home would be too unbearable? Is that reality even real? He could have made it up, like the ballroom. This is probably all a lie!"
"I can assure you it is not." Kyra said, her tone surprisingly sympathetic. "Your wish was granted by me, not my brother. He has the power to grant illusions. I can only show you the reality of your choices."
"You did say you did not lie." Sarah sighed as she remembered. "Hoggle said you were different than Jareth. 'Not a bad sort' is the term he used."
"I always had a fondness for dear Hoggle. Tell me, how did you manage to spirit him away from the Labyrinth under Jareth's nose? He was furious when he discovered what you had done."
"He won't hurt Hoggle, will he?" Sarah demanded as she grabbed onto Kyra's arm. Her fingers dug in unconsciously as fear rose in her throat. "He can't get him…!"
"Hoggle is beyond Jareth's reach now." Kyra said, wincing as Sarah's fingers continued to dig into her arm. "That's why he's so angry. Hoggle is human, and Jareth can't touch him unless Hoggle comes back to this realm."
"Hoggle would never do that." Sarah said with a relieved sigh, her grip upon Kyra's arm loosening as she relaxed. "Jareth really can't touch him?"
"Hoggle is beyond Jareth's power right now." Kyra assured her as she rubbed her arm. It was a good thing bruises faded quickly if they showed up at all. "How did you get him out?"
"When the others went home he stayed." Sarah admitted. "He was the only one Jareth physically threatened. I had to protect him. I forced him to help me after all."
"Maybe at first. He continued to help you because he wanted to." Kyra reminded her.
"He didn't really want to go back." Sarah continued. "He could have, before time made him fully human. He fell in love with the world Aboveground. We started a business."
"The bookstore."
"We both loved books." Sarah nodded. "It seemed natural to make a living of them. Hoggle used his jewels to fund it. When I came back from college we ran the place together."
"And your family? How did everything change with them after you came back?"
"I stopped being a brat and gave Karen a chance." Sarah said with a self- deprecating laugh. "I stopped placing her in the role of wicked step- mother. It got a lot easier at home after that. With the tension gone we could work on being a family."
"So you returned from your adventure in the Labyrinth a changed woman. You began to mature, and to look for the positive things in life. You stopped taking your world and the people around you for granted." Kyra listed, counting of each thing on her right hand. "And yet you wished your experience in the Labyrinth away. Why on earth would you do that?"
"Because the guilt of wishing Toby away never left me. I wanted to forget the whole thing." Sarah answered, covering her mouth with her hand as she fought to contain a yawn. It had been an exhausting day. "I thought that if I'd never gone through the Labyrinth then the guilt would go away. I didn't realize what would happen, that not going through the Labyrinth would make my life happier. But it didn't, these have been the worst 3 days of my life."
"You played right into Jareth's hands when you made that wish." Kyra said softly, her expression sympathetic in the moonlight. "He's been looking for a way to get back at you for 10 years, Sarah. He thinks making you miserable will make him feel better."
"He's messed with my life before and I've stopped him." Sarah said, her expression hardening into anger as her hands formed fists in her lap. "He wants to feel better? That's too bad, because he's going to regret making me come back here again. He'll wish HE'D never met ME by the time I'm through!"
Good for you, Sarah Kyra thought as Sarah stormed into the castle. Good for you
"I can't wish myself away." Sarah said, wringing her hands as she paced Hoggle's living room. "He'd own me then. I can't, won't, give him that kind of power over me again."
"How else are you going to get to the Labyrinth?" Hoggle asked, watching her from his comfortable seat on the couch.
"The same way you got out." Sarah replied with determination.
"I was invited by you. Who do you know that is going to invite you into the Labyrinth?"
Sarah frowned as she contemplated his words. Who did she know? It had to be someone that had a connection…someone she could talk to. Someone…her expression lit up as realization dawned.
"I know who I can ask." Sarah said with a smile. "It'll have to wait till I'm asleep though."
Later that night:
Sarah stood before the gates of the Labyrinth staring up at the huge double doors that barred the entrance. The last time she had been here everything had been new and beautiful in a terrifying sort of way. Everything still appeared to be that way, but her fear was lessened by the fact that she knew she was dreaming. Nothing could hurt her in her dreams according to Kyra. Speaking of Kyra…
"Where are you?" Sarah wondered aloud. She heard a sound and turned to see a fairy whiz by, looking pretty and dainty in the pale moonlight. She knew better though. They bite.
"Kyra?" Sarah called hesitantly.
Last time Kyra had simply appeared. Sarah had assumed she'd still be watching, and would appear on her own. Perhaps she shouldn't have assumed…god knows she'd gotten into trouble doing that last time she was here. She walked toward the fountain that she'd met Hoggle at, sitting on its ledge and trailing a hand through the water, causing ripples that made the moon's reflection dance. When it steadied a face was revealed, attached to the body that was standing behind her. Sarah whirled, glaring as Kyra laughed at her.
"Did I startle you?" Kyra teased, her laughter ringing through the night. "I'm sorry. I couldn't resist. I do love a good prank."
"I'll recover." Sarah said dryly while her heart slowed its frantic pace. "Thank you for coming."
"I'm pleased you felt you could call." Kyra said, serious now. "I thought that after granting your wish you would find my company repellant."
"I should." Sarah replied without malice. "But I find I need you at the moment."
"How flattering." Kyra said. "What exactly do you need me for?"
"I need to come back to the Labyrinth." Sarah explained. "There's only two ways I can come in. One of them I cannot use."
"Wishing yourself here is not an option." Kyra agreed, amusement crossing her face as Sarah looked up sharply. "I read minds dearest. Surely you've found out that much about me."
"I was not aware you had that particular talent." Sarah said with dismay. "What else have you read from my mind?"
"Nothing I'll share with anyone else." Kyra assured her. "Unless you want me to tell Jareth—"
"There's nothing to tell Jareth." Sarah said hastily. "Will you invite me in?"
"Done." Kyra said. "I'm so glad you could come for a visit, my dear."
Both women disappeared in a shower of glitter. Hoggle, sitting at Sarah's bedside in his apartment, gave a great sigh as her form disappeared from the bed. She was in.
Sarah's breath left her lungs in a rush as she and Kyra appeared in the throne room of the castle. She was not surprised to note that very little had changed since she'd been here last. It was still dark and gloomy, and Jareth was not present.
"Housekeeping isn't his strong point, is it?" Sarah said with distaste as her gaze took in the cluttered room.
"He's a man, sweetie." Kyra reminded her. "What man do you know that cares how his place looks? It takes a woman to bring them in line."
Sarah couldn't imagine that anyone could bring Jareth in line.
"Where is he?" Sarah demanded, squaring her shoulders determinedly as she turned to face Kyra. Dwelling on the Goblin King's housekeeping skills was not her priority.
"You're on your own from here." Kyra told her. "I got you here. Everything else is up to you."
"But…" Sarah began to protest.
It was too late. Kyra was gone. Sarah glared at the space she had occupied though it would do no good. She had to find Jareth on her own. She figured the castle was as good a place to start as any.
Jareth turned when his sister walked in, his cape flying with the force of his anger as he glared at her. Kyra merely smiled at him, the picture of innocence as she settled her self at the table. She was reaching for a handful of grapes when his icy voice whipped out.
"You invited her."
Kyra chewed slowly on a grape and washed it down with a swallow of water before raising her gaze to his. Her expression was serious but he could see a sparkle of mischief in her eyes and he cursed inwardly, belatedly realizing that he had played right into her meddling hands.
"You wanted her here, didn't you?" Kyra asked, dabbing at her lips daintily with a napkin.
"She was supposed to wish herself here." Jareth reminded her, seething with irritation that he did not bother to hide as he began to pace the room. "She would have been mine then. An invitation gives her the option to refuse to stay."
Kyra paused in the act of forking up the eggs she'd conjured to look at him, the sparkle in her eyes even more evident as she grinned up at him.
"You'll just have to make her want to stay then."
"I don't care what she wants, little sister. Her feelings are no matter to me. Not anymore." Jareth snarled when she winked at him. "The only thing that matters now is I will have my revenge."
"Revenge is so cold, brother." Kyra said with a delicate shudder. "Sarah is such a warm person. You might get closer to her if you chose another tactic."
"Oh, and what tactic would you suggest?" Jareth demanded, crossing his arms across his chest as he stared down his nose at her. "If I were to be interested in getting closer. Which I'm not."
"You could try being friendly." Kyra replied, wondering if he realized just how pathetic his denial sounded. "She expects you to be what you were before. Try something different. Be nice."
Jareth tilted his head to the side as he considered her words.
"You're right." He agreed, stunning Kyra. "I'll try something different. She won't know what hit her."
"Jareth…" Kyra began only to trail off when he disappeared in a shower of glitter. She rolled her eyes heavenward before continuing to eat. She could tell her brother was about to do something very stupid. She conjured a crystal in her hand and sat back, preparing to watch the show.
Sarah walked down a dimly lit corridor slowly with her hand trailing across the stone wall. She pulled her fingers back at the slimy feel of the stone, grimacing as she wiped her grimy hand on the leg of her jeans. She couldn't understand how anyone could live like this. Then again the owner of this castle was probably too busy stealing babies to have any concern with the state of his home. She wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the chill in the air as she turned the corner into a room she recognized, and never thought she would see again. It was the room where she had faced The Goblin King for the last time…the room with the stairs…the one where she'd defeated him. As she left the corridor behind she didn't notice that the wall she'd run her hand across was sparkling…as if someone had spent hours scrubbing even though only moments had passed. Kyra noticed though, and she wondered if Jareth realized that his heart was beginning to thaw. Even if he didn't, his castle did. The touch of the mortal's hand upon its wall had brought that piece to life.
Sarah stood on the edge of a landing, staring down into the empty space in the center of the room. Last time she had jumped from this point to save Toby. There was nothing below now to call her, and she turned from the edge, walking straight into the unyielding form of the man she sought. An unwilling gasp tore from her lips and she instinctively took a step back…only to have her foot come down on air. She'd forgotten she was on the edge! Her arms began to pinwheel as she fought to keep her balance and she grabbed onto the only thing available to keep from falling. Jareth's arms slid around her waist as her hands clutched his arms, pulling her from the edge and securely against him without thought but to protect her as he held her close. Sarah's breath caught at his nearness and she leaned her forehead against his chest knowing that looking up would be a grave mistake at this moment. Her heart was beating quickly and she did not know if it was from the near fall or from his being the one to catch her. She had never expected that their first meeting in 10 years would begin like this. Finally trusting herself enough to look at him she raised her head and met his gaze.
Jareth's face remained impassive, maintaining its usual cold expression even though his heart had nearly stopped when she'd taken that step back from him. His lips twisted in a sneer as he thought that her first thought had been to get away with him, even if it put her at risk to do it. That was the expression she caught on his face when her gaze met his, that coldly arrogant stare she remembered so well. She tensed automatically, releasing her grip on his arms as she tried to step away.
"Be careful, Sarah." Jareth said, his voice a caress she hadn't known she'd longed for until now. "Your position is still…precarious."
Sarah looked back over her shoulder, shuddering at the dizzying view. She turned her head back until her gaze was once again trapped in Jareth's. A wry grin twisted her lips, surprising Jareth who'd expected harsh words of recrimination.
"My position was always precarious when it came to you." Sarah replied with a sigh. "Are you going to let go of me?"
"Do you promise not to try to kill yourself rather than be near me?" He asked with one eyebrow raised as he stepped back, pulling her with him as he did so.
"Kill myself?" Sarah said, puzzled as he released his hold on her waist. "Why would I try to...you thought…that I'd do that because of you? You are still full of yourself, aren't you Goblin King?"
His expression went colder, if that were possible. He looked down his nose at her in that regal way she remembered so well. She straightened her shoulders and gazed at him with open defiance, the fear of her near fall forgotten as she braced herself for his reply. She thought she was prepared for whatever he could throw at her…until he smiled. Not one of his sarcastic little smirks either…a full open smile. Sarah blinked in surprise, her heart stuttering in her chest as Kyra's words about a charming Goblin King came back to haunt her.
"You haven't changed." He said stepping back as his gaze swept down over her. "You still speak before you think."
He could see she had changed. She had more determination in her expression than he could remember seeing before. Her hair was still long, but twisted at the nape into a severe knot that hid it from view. Her eyes held more life, more of a sparkle than she'd had before…even the past couple days grief hadn't dimmed that.
"I'm usually more polite." Sarah said as his hands slid from her waist. She felt a loss at the absence of his touch and that disturbed her more than she cared to admit. "What are you up to?"
"What am I up to?" Jareth asked, one eyebrow arched. "It is you who are here, uninvited I may add. I should be asking you what you want."
"I was invited." Sarah said smugly, folding her arms across her chest as she stared at him. "And you're the one that tricked me into making that wish. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
"You still blame others for your own foolish decisions, I see." Jareth said with his own arms folded just as defensively. "I did not pull the words from your mouth."
"No, you used your sister to pull them from my head." She accused. "You sent her to do your dirty work for you. And because she loves you, she did it."
"How little you know." He replied as he smiled that little smile that never failed to infuriate her. She could feel her blood begin to boil as he continued to speak. "You still take so much for granted, little Sarah."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Kyra isn't as innocent as you'd like to think. She came to ME with what she knew." Jareth told her, enjoying the impotent anger that formed on her face. "You should be careful who you trust, my dear."
"I don't trust YOU." Sarah said knowing she sounded childish but not caring as hurt at Kyra's actions filled her chest. She'd begun to LIKE the woman. She should have known better.
"You don't trust me, and you don't like me. Whatever possessed you to want to come anywhere near me or my Labyrinth again?" Jareth asked as his voice dropped seductively. Sarah's eyes widened as he reached out and ran his finger down her cheek. She jerked her head away from his touch, eyes narrowing in suspicion as he sent her another smile.
"I came here…"Sarah began, hating herself for the tremor in her voice as she answered him. "…To be free of you."
"Sarah, don't you know that you will never be free or me?"
He disappeared before she could reply, leaving her staring off into space with confusion as his last words echoed.
Part 5
Sarah sat on the cold stone steps of the castle with her arms wrapped around her knees to ward off the chill in the air as the moon rose overhead. The Goblin City was washed in it's pale light, giving it an eerie luminescence that was quite beautiful. She hadn't noticed anything beautiful about this place last time she'd been here. She had only looked for what she had expected to see. She'd only wanted to save Toby, and she hadn't had them time to look for more. She wondered how much she had missed in her mad dash through the Labyrinth.
"Are you going to sit out here all evening?"
Sarah did not turn to look at Kyra, who had materialized beside her on the step. She had no wish to get caught in whatever game Jareth and Kyra were playing…She gave a great sigh when she realized she already was in the game…she just didn't know the rules.
"You are angry with me." Kyra said, settling her skirts about her as she sat beside Sarah.
"I shouldn't have trusted you." Sarah said simply. "That's my fault. You can't help who you are."
"And you think you know who I am." Kyra said, her voice serious for the first time since Sarah had met her. "You do take a lot for granted."
"Everyone here keeps telling me that." Sarah complained. "Why are you so surprised when what I've been shown reaffirms my expectations?"
"What else do you expect from a fairy tale kingdom? This place is designed to show you what you expect to see. What did you expect to see the first time you were here?"
"Horrible stuff." Sarah said promptly. "Toby was in danger."
"And you pictured him being held in a dangerous place." Kyra pointed out. "You were shown that. What do you expect now?"
"I don't know." Sarah replied with frustration clear in her voice. "I don't know what to expect from him. Everything's different."
Kyra's smile was as good as a verbal interruption. Sarah narrowed her gaze as she stared at her, she didn't like the smug expression on the Queen of Dreams' face.
"What?"
"It's funny how the first thing you mention as different is Jareth." Kyra responded. "Is he so present in your thoughts then?"
Sarah ran her fingers over the marble step she sat on absently as she formulated a reply. She did not see the blue glow that lit the step as her hand passed over it; her mind was too occupied with the question Kyra had asked.
"He wasn't before today." Sarah muttered as she shifted uncomfortably on the hard step. "That's not true. He was there, but not in the way he is now."
"Do tell." Kyra said eagerly, leaning forward so as not to miss a word. Her gaze missed nothing as the staircase Sarah sat upon shimmered in the darkness. "What way do you mean?"
"Jareth took my brother, that made him the villain in my eyes. It took me years to come to the realization that he only did what I asked him to. That still doesn't mean I trust him. But then I started to wonder why he would do what I, a mortal girl, asked him to do."
"Interesting." Kyra mused. "Have you figured that part out yet?"
"No." Sarah replied sharply. "I don't think I want to know. I just want this to go home."
"You're free to leave at anytime." Kyra reminded her. "There's nothing to tie you here. There's no reason for you to stay."
"I would rather stay here than go back to that hell I wished for." Sarah said with a frown. "Was it his intention to drive me back here because home would be too unbearable? Is that reality even real? He could have made it up, like the ballroom. This is probably all a lie!"
"I can assure you it is not." Kyra said, her tone surprisingly sympathetic. "Your wish was granted by me, not my brother. He has the power to grant illusions. I can only show you the reality of your choices."
"You did say you did not lie." Sarah sighed as she remembered. "Hoggle said you were different than Jareth. 'Not a bad sort' is the term he used."
"I always had a fondness for dear Hoggle. Tell me, how did you manage to spirit him away from the Labyrinth under Jareth's nose? He was furious when he discovered what you had done."
"He won't hurt Hoggle, will he?" Sarah demanded as she grabbed onto Kyra's arm. Her fingers dug in unconsciously as fear rose in her throat. "He can't get him…!"
"Hoggle is beyond Jareth's reach now." Kyra said, wincing as Sarah's fingers continued to dig into her arm. "That's why he's so angry. Hoggle is human, and Jareth can't touch him unless Hoggle comes back to this realm."
"Hoggle would never do that." Sarah said with a relieved sigh, her grip upon Kyra's arm loosening as she relaxed. "Jareth really can't touch him?"
"Hoggle is beyond Jareth's power right now." Kyra assured her as she rubbed her arm. It was a good thing bruises faded quickly if they showed up at all. "How did you get him out?"
"When the others went home he stayed." Sarah admitted. "He was the only one Jareth physically threatened. I had to protect him. I forced him to help me after all."
"Maybe at first. He continued to help you because he wanted to." Kyra reminded her.
"He didn't really want to go back." Sarah continued. "He could have, before time made him fully human. He fell in love with the world Aboveground. We started a business."
"The bookstore."
"We both loved books." Sarah nodded. "It seemed natural to make a living of them. Hoggle used his jewels to fund it. When I came back from college we ran the place together."
"And your family? How did everything change with them after you came back?"
"I stopped being a brat and gave Karen a chance." Sarah said with a self- deprecating laugh. "I stopped placing her in the role of wicked step- mother. It got a lot easier at home after that. With the tension gone we could work on being a family."
"So you returned from your adventure in the Labyrinth a changed woman. You began to mature, and to look for the positive things in life. You stopped taking your world and the people around you for granted." Kyra listed, counting of each thing on her right hand. "And yet you wished your experience in the Labyrinth away. Why on earth would you do that?"
"Because the guilt of wishing Toby away never left me. I wanted to forget the whole thing." Sarah answered, covering her mouth with her hand as she fought to contain a yawn. It had been an exhausting day. "I thought that if I'd never gone through the Labyrinth then the guilt would go away. I didn't realize what would happen, that not going through the Labyrinth would make my life happier. But it didn't, these have been the worst 3 days of my life."
"You played right into Jareth's hands when you made that wish." Kyra said softly, her expression sympathetic in the moonlight. "He's been looking for a way to get back at you for 10 years, Sarah. He thinks making you miserable will make him feel better."
"He's messed with my life before and I've stopped him." Sarah said, her expression hardening into anger as her hands formed fists in her lap. "He wants to feel better? That's too bad, because he's going to regret making me come back here again. He'll wish HE'D never met ME by the time I'm through!"
Good for you, Sarah Kyra thought as Sarah stormed into the castle. Good for you